GENEROSITY URGED TO AID LIBERIA'S REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY, AT UN CONFERENCE ON LIBERIAN ASSISTANCE

Press Release
CT/641
IHA/583

GENEROSITY URGED TO AID LIBERIA'S REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY, AT UN CONFERENCE ON LIBERIAN ASSISTANCE

Speakers at the final session of the United Nations Conference on Assistance to Liberia this afternoon urged the international community to be generous in its support of Liberia's transition to rehabilitation and recovery.

Several speakers reviewed their previous and ongoing contributions in the areas of humanitarian and food aid, health care and technical assistance and indicated they would examine the possibilities for future assistance.

The representative of the World Bank, one of nine speakers this afternoon, said it would be unable to assist Liberia financially because of its unpaid arrears and to resume financial assistance the Bank would require an agreement on a scheme to address the debt comprehensively. In the meantime, it would provide advice, technical assistance and other non-lending services.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Canada, South Africa, Tunisia and Libya. Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organization also spoke.

The Conference, which began this morning, was convened in support of the objectives of the August 1995 Abuja Peace Agreement signed by the various factions in the Liberian conflict. The international community was asked to contribute to humanitarian assistance, disarmament and demobilization, recovery and rehabilitation and logistical support for the Economic Community of West African States' Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG).

Work Programme

The United Nations Conference on Assistance to Liberia met this afternoon to continue hearing statements by Member States and United Nations specialized agencies.

FRANCOIS TASCHEREAU (Canada) said that during the civil war, Canada had given more than $25 million Canadian in humanitarian and food aid to Liberians through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and medical and church groups. Canada provided $1.5 million last year, and were currently engaged in discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about field delivery mechanisms. He expected to be in a position to soon respond positively to the appeal.

He said Canada had just given $989,000 through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for Liberians in Guinea. His Government also intended to open up a small-projects fund for local initiatives, run by the Embassy to Liberia, at a level of up to $200,000 until 31 March and perhaps more next year. Much as Canada supported the concept of regional peace-keeping, it was not in a position to currently make a voluntary contribution to the Trust Fund. His Government was, however, examining the possibility of other appropriate forms of assistance and was also aware that mine removal was an area of special need.

KHULU Z. MBATHA (South Africa) said he welcomed the conclusion of the Abuja Agreement. A basic infrastructure was needed in Liberia. The creation of a legitimate, albeit transitional, Government was a development to be hailed and it fully justified the holding of the Conference in order to provide assistance to Liberia. South Africa welcomed all the pledges made at the morning session.

SLAHEDDINE ABDELLAH (Tunisia) said that his country had always tried to help restore peace in Liberia and had spared no effort in encouraging the parties to negotiate a solution to the conflict. He welcomed the silencing of the guns. The international community must now give effective support in order to consolidate those positive results. He hoped that the donor countries would continue to make contributions to the special United Nations fund for Liberia.

GUMA AHMER (Libya) thanked all those countries who played a role in the conclusion of the Abuja Agreement. The full implementation of the Abuja Agreement required international assistance. Libya had provided humanitarian assistance to Liberia in the past and was ready to provide food assistance to the country. Libya would also provide work to Liberians and would help by restoring projects in that country.

Liberia Assistance Conference - 3 - Press Release CT/641 PM Meeting IHA/583 27 October 1995

BIRGER FREDRIKSEN, of the Western Africa Department of the World Bank, said the Liberian people had suffered much and deserved timely support. Having expressed his strong desire to help Liberia, and having called on donors to be generous, requesting financial assistance from the World Bank was complicated by the fact that Liberia had been suspended by the World Bank due to serious arrears, in excess of $200 million. The World Bank would do its best to provide assistance, advice and technical assistance to help manage the rehabilitation and recovery process. The Bank wanted to restore financial responsibility to Liberia as quickly as possible.

SOREN JESSEN-PETERSON, Director of the New York Liaison Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said UNHCR had been with the Liberian people since their plight began six years ago. Approximately 800,000 Liberians had been provided assistance in various countries and 100,000 within the country, amounting to assistance worth $132 million, so far. The UNHCR had appealed for additional funds to assist the country. The UNHCR would also assist in transporting the returnees and its projects would include the building and repair of schools and roads.

ANDREW JOSEPH, representative of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said his primary concern was the immediate restoration of health services to the deprived population. The WHO was making efforts on HIV/AIDS, growing substance abuse, demobilizing ex-combatants and the rehabilitation of health and social infrastructure. The Agency was also supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in setting up an effective health organization to work towards the prevention and control of communicable diseases, provide safe blood transfusion and laboratory services and address mental health and substance abuse problems. The Agency would continue to promote self-help and develop human resources within the health centre, as well as provide health services to soldiers.

NIGEL FISHER, Director of the Office of Emergency Operations of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), said he wished the transitional Government in Liberia success in bringing peace to that country. The horrendous impact of the war on the population and the traumatization of women and children was well known. The Agency would support the community initiative and would assist in the physical rehabilitation of the injured and in the demobilization of child combatants. It would also provide an opportunity of schooling for the children. It called on everyone concerned to respect the rights of children.

The Agency would help reintegrate refugees in their original communities, he said. Rebuilding and reopening of schools would be given priority and the Agency would assist in the training of teachers and refocus attention on the future, since children were the future leaders of Liberia.

Liberia Assistance Conference - 4 - Press Release CT/641 PM Meeting IHA/583 27 October 1995

In the health field, it would continue to assist the Ministry of Health and work in close collaboration with other agencies.

FREDERICK H. WEIBGEN, of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said his objective was establishing an emergency programme to enhance full security for farmers and fishermen and other programmes in the agricultural sector. For that he was requesting a total package of $11.5 million. There was a broad scope of projects requiring such funds, including the re- establishment of national facilities for plant protection and reviving small- scale food processing and blacksmithing.

Hand tools were needed now to clear forest and bush for the next planting season, he continued. Those were just as important as the supply of seed. An estimated 4,100 tons of rice seed were needed, which would save on food aid. The response of donors to the appeals would depend on the capacity of the humanitarian community to reach the beneficiaries. As the situation evolved, efforts would be expanded to include additional target groups.

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